Visiting a Social Security Office

• Heading to your local Social Security office is the easiest way to have face-to-face help in making your Social Security Disability claim. A representative will show you how to fill out your application and give you pamphlets on what to expect. When you go to a Social Security office, expect long delays and wait times. The individuals who help you fill out your paperwork are not the individuals who decide if your claim is substantiated or not.
  
  

Social Security Call Center

• Call (800) 772-1213 to reach the national Social Security office and apply for disability benefits over the phone. If you are hard of hearing, a TTY line is available at (800)-325-0778. Representatives are available from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday and are more than happy to assist you. The representatives can answer most of your basic Social Security disability inquiries. Consider calling the call center on a landline. If your cell phone signal drops in the middle of a conversation, you will have to go back through the entire queue again.
  
  

Consulting a Lawyer

• Most cases for disability benefits are denied upon their initial applications. Those concerned about having an application denied should consider enlisting the help of an attorney who specializes in Social Security Disability cases. Some attorneys won't help you until your application has already been denied. Other attorneys will help you every step of the way.
  
  If you have disabilities that make it hard for you to understand things and stay organized, a lawyer will really help your case go through the proper channels. Attorneys make sure that the correct documentation is attached to your claim. They also represent you in front of any Social Security hearing panels. Unlike the assistance at the call center and Social Security offices, a lawyer is not free. Each attorney's fee structure is different. Be sure to fully understand the fees and costs associated with a lawyer before signing any contracts.